It was raining much too hard to take a photograph of this fine bronze of Charles James Fox erected in 1816. I was walking across the north side of Bloomsbury Square on my way to the British Museum and their Charmed Lives in Greece exhibition.
Afterwards I took a trip down Memory Lane, more accurately Monmouth Street, for lunch at Mon Plaisir. It is little changed since I frequented it in the 1970s. Both food and staff are still authentically French although the wine list, that was exclusively French, has been augmented by bottles from Spain, Italy, California and one red from Lebanon. I had Kir, a white Rioja and a glass of Sauternes to wash down: saucisson Lyonnaise, fish stew and pistachio ice cream.
After lunch walking through John Adam Street on the way to Embankment station I saw this plaque.
Thomas Rowlandson is better known for his social satire, unlike his contemporary Gillray who specialised in hard-hitting political cartoons. However, in this hand-coloured etching published by Ackermann in 1801 Rowlandson combines politics, theatre and society with CJ Fox centre stage.
Here is how it is described by the Met:
Rowlandson and Woodward collaborated on this ebullient panel of heads tucked behind ribbons, as though into old-fashioned note boards.The image depicts well-known figures in politics, the theater and society. Four politicians anchor the composition. At center Charles James Fox, dark-haired and unshaven, faces his chief rival, the tall, thin, white-haired William Pitt the Younger. Between them with cropped hair stands George Tierney, a radical Whig whose outrageous remarks led to a duel with Pitt in 1797. Just above Fox is the Whig playwright and politician Richard Brinsley Sheridan, with carbuncled nose and cheeks. Among the three theatricals wearing feathered hats at the upper left are John Kemble, in profile, his sister Sara Siddons, who is being admired by the publisher-critic-caricaturist Edward Topham.
Mrs Siddons is the most recognisable character thanks to the many portraits of her, notably by Reynolds and Gainsborough, in her Trade Mark hats (that are mentioned more than once in Dance to the Music of Time).
Glad we are revisiting the Charmed Lives exhibition. I have two things to mention re PLF and Mani. One of them is that Major Bob Crisp ( author of Brazen Chariots and The Gods Were Neutral) lived near Paddy’s house in an abandoned shepherd’s hut. Crisp a war hero like PLF drank from different fountains as it has been said. A handsome cricketeer from Southern Africa before the war his feats in Greece and the Western Desert were the stuff of legend. A legend he continue to weave through the rest of his life. A four letter man it seems with the trailing girlfriends and bailiffs to prove it. Yet as a counter point to Leigh Fermor as far as character and as conduct is concerned its a pity he wasn’t mentioned as far as I know in the exhibit.
Secondly I discovered via a Greek wedding several years ago in Sacramento that an elderly grandfather present was a Cretan. We had a good chat about Crete that veered into WW11. PLF mentioned once,then twice…then I asked if he (let’s call him Cyril) was in contact with Paddy. Yes was the reply…they had written for years first mainly in Greek and latterly(after Cyril came to California) the correspondence veered toward English.
He also mention delightful small drawings and squibs tossed into the mix in recent years. Just discovered Cyril is still alive,well into his 90s. Am trying to assure that the letters and notes survive him but jury still out. Fortunately his grandson in law is reachable and helpful. Will report if search turns up some good news on the Paddymania front.